The Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course was developed by the International Association for Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care (IATSIC) of the International Surgical Society.

The Definitive Surgical Trauma Skills Course (DSTS) was developed independently by the Royal College of Surgeons of England with the Royal Defence Medical College and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in the United States. The two courses are complementary and together provide a comprehensive surgical training in trauma surgery decision making, access and repair.

The parent organisation of DSTC, and the world’s biggest trauma organisation outside of the United States is the International Association for the Surgery of Trauma and Surgical Intensive Care (IATSIC). This is part of the International Society of Surgery, based in Basel in Switzerland. It was founded in 1988 and serves as a forum for Trauma Surgeons world-wide. It is developing a leading role in education, and besides being the owner of the DSTC course, has also instituted the National Trauma Management Course which is a course designed for developing (resource challenged countries) who cannot afford either the equipment required, nor the instructor student ratio, of more advanced courses. It was originally developed for Africa, but has now taken place several times on the Indian subcontinent as well. “

Definitive Anaesthestic Trauma Care (DATC)

The Definitive Anaesthetic Trauma Care (DATC) course was developed by an international group of anaesthetists involved in trauma care and teaching. The DATC has been integrated as a subgroup into the International Association of Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (IATSIC).

The DATC course is aimed at anaesthetists and intensive care doctors involved in acute trauma care decision making. The course always takes place together with the DSTC course, sharing a large part of the theoretical and practical program with a maximum of interaction. The DATC covers anaesthetic management of the trauma casualty from arrival in the emergency room during the damage control period until the end of the initial ICU period with a strong focus on Damage control resuscitation.